A BOATLOAD OF AWARDS

One of Minnesota’s most coveted journalism awards has made its way to the Steele County Times as the newspaper won a boatload of awards during the Minnesota Newspaper Association’s annual Better Newspaper Contest.

On Thursday, the local newspaper earned first place General Excellence at a banquet in Brooklyn Center. The first-place honor was just one of 19 awards given out to the Times—the most ever in the newspaper’s history for a single contest.

In all, the Times captured nine first-place awards, four second-place awards and six third-place awards. For most of the categories, the Times competes in the non-multi day category with circulation of 1,501 to 3,000.

General Excellence is considered one of the most prestigious categories in the contest. Judges consider depth, breadth and quality of news coverage, quality of advertising, quality of editorial page, quality of photography and overall design of the newspaper.

“Your readers are excited each week to get your edition—it’s very clear. The design, headlines, news value, just absolutely fantastic,” the judges commented about the Times. “Ads are strong. Layout is in point. Every page assembled with care.”

This is not the first time the Times has brought home first place for General Excellence. In 2022, the Times earned first place in both the state and national contests. Last year the Times won second place at state.

Other first place awards were given out for Editorial Page as a Whole and individual awards to Kay Fate for Social Issues Story; Rick Bussler and Kay Fate for Hard News-Coverage of Crime and Local Breaking News Coverage; Bussler for Use of Information Graphics, News Photography, Arts & Entertainment Story and Hard News Story.

In awarding first for Editorial Page, judges commented: “Strong editorial page. Has all the important elements: viewpoints, lighter columns readers are sure to enjoy and letters to the editor to get feedback. Really nice pages.”

The Times’ breaking news coverage of last May’s overpass killing in Owatonna earned first places in two different categories. Judges said: “This news story went way beyond the expected with the additional stories about different individuals involved in the tragedy. The pull out feature story on the paint store manager and the timeline graphic added information that was easy to read. Outstanding job!”

Fate won first for her “Message of Hope” story that ran last May about a suicide survivor who spoke in Owatonna. Judges said: “Important story and a lead that really sucked me into the piece. Good quotes and stats—short, precise sentences really have strong, sad impact, but her quotes also give unique insight and hope. Your photos tell a lot of the story, too.”

Bussler’s feature, “This Bud’s for You” on Owatonna poet Bud Peka earned first place. “Very well written. Loved the use of his poems on the page,” judges remarked.

The layout and design of a story about Peng Olson and her mother being reunited after 50 years earned Bussler first for Use of Information Graphics. “Visually stunning. Well done,” the judge wrote.

The Times earned four second place awards: Best Use of Social Media (Bussler and Karen Hale), Government/Public Affairs Reporting (Bussler and Howard Lestrud), Hard News (Joni Hubred) and Human-Interest Story-Personality Feature (Fate).

Third place awards were given for Sports Reporting, Headline Writing, Classified Advertising Section, Press Photographers Portfolio to Johnnie Phillips, Social Issues Story to Hubred and Human-Interest Story-Personality Feature to Bussler.

“The success we achieved in this year’s contest affirms the quality of journalism we have long been committed to providing our readers,” said Bussler. “We are thrilled to be given these awards covering all aspects of what we do on a weekly basis.”

Since 2012, the Times has earned 112 state awards and 44 national awards.